Robe with fasteners



1953 v. L. STEPHENSON 2,656,540

ROBE WITH FASTENERS.

Filed Jan. 15, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Hie/v5 4 57ZP/lE/V30/V BYI W? Oct. 27, 1953 v v. L. STEPHENSON 2 ,656;540

ROBE WITH FASTENERS" Filed Jan. 15, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet? INVENTOR.

Afraid/5K5 Oct. 27, 1953 v. STEPHENSON 2,656,540

ROBE WITH FASTENERS Filed Jan. 15, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet s 52, 1Eisirwuwmigmmm' INVENTOR. ligelve Lfin'P/lzwsml.

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Patented Oct. 27, .1953

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBE WITH FASTENERS Verne L. Stephenson,Goshen, Ind. Application January 15, 1951, Serial No. 205,979 3 Claims.(Cl. 2-695) This invention relates to a robe with fasteners.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a robe which may beused in its extended flat condition as a covering upon a cot or bed, oras a seating pad when spread upon the ground at a beach or a picnic, andwhich also may be folded and fastened to form a bag or enclosure inwhich all or a part of the body of the user may fit to effectively coverand protect the user, particularly while in a reclining or in a seatedposition.

A further object is to provide a device of this character wherein a robeis provided with a plurality of fasteners so located and positioned asto form a bag or enclosure of any of a selected number of sizes andshapes to accommodate users of different sizes and weights, and whichrobe is so constructed that it may be extended to and used in fiatposition if desired.

A further object is to provide a device of this character provided withslide fasteners so positioned and arranged as to form the robe into abag or enclosure, which bag or enclosure may have a selected number ofopenings formed therein at desired positions and of selected size bymanipulation of said fasteners.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the robe in its folded and fastened position toform an enclosure.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the robe shown in Fig. 1, with the fastenersreleased and the robe extended.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and illustratingthe formation of an enclosure of small size.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the arrangement ofthe parts to form an enclosure of larger size than that illustrated inFig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and illustrating the formation of anenclosure of maximum size permitted by the construction of the device.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sec-. tional view taken on line66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of an enclosure formed by a modified embodiment ofthe invention.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a robe of the character illustrated in Fig. 7in its extended form.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig.8, illustrating the robe folded to the condition shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the enclosure illustratedin Fig. 7 with the parts separated to provide a small opening in theenclosure.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 6 whichillustrate one embodiment of the invention, the numeral l0 designates arobe or blanket, preferably of rectangular shape and of any size foundsuitable, but preferably of the size commonly used in robes for use atpicnics, football games, and the like. The robe may have a fringe l2 atone end thereof as illustrated.

The robe will be provided with one or two elongated pieces of blanketmaterial, preferably of the same material of which the robe l 0 isformed. Two strips [4 are preferred, one located at each of the twolongitudinal edges of the robe and extending for the major part of thelength of the robe. The strip or strips l4 preferably taper with thenarrow part located at one end of the robe and the wide part thereofterminating short of the opposite end of the robe. Where a robe having afringed end is provided,the wide part of each strip [4 will bepositioned adjacent to but spaced from that fringed end, and the narrowpart of the strip M will extend adjacent to but preferably willterminate slightly inwardly spaced from the opposite end of the robe.The strip [4 will be sewed to the robe by longitudinal lines ofstitching l6 at its outer edge, as best illustrated in Fig. 6, the outermargin of the strip l4 being inset from the outer longitudinal edge ofthe robe I0, and the strip [4 lying flat upon the robe to extendinwardly from the stitching line It.

The opposite longitudinal margins of the robe II] will have securedthereto the tapes [8 of slide fasteners, which tapes H! are sewed orstitched at 20 at the margin thereof opposite that margin which mountsthe fastener teeth 22. The tape l8 will be so secured and positionedwith relation to the robe II) that the fastener teeth 22 will projectslightly outwardly beyond the outer margins of the robe It, as best seenin Fig. 6, and the portions of the robe l0 and of the tape l8 positionedoutwardly of the stitching 20 are preferably free from one another sothat the slider may extend along the teeth to engage the same with theteeth of a complementary strip or to disengage them from the teeth of acomplementary strip. The tape [8 will preferably be positioned incontact with the face or surface of the robe II] which is contacted orengaged by the adjacent flap or strip l4.

Each strip M will have secured thereto a slide fastener part consistingof a tape 24 mounting a series of longitudinally spaced grippers orteeth 26 at one edge. The tape 24 is secured to the strip M at the edgeportion thereof opposite that which mounts the teeth 26 by means ofstitching 28. The tape 24 engages the surface of the strip I4 whichnormally contacts the robe ill so that when the parts lie in theirnatural extended position, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the tape 24 will bedisposed between the robe It and the strip 14. The teeth 26 will bepositioned outwardly from the edge of the strip l4, and the portions ofthe strip l4 and the tape 24 located outwardly of the line of stitching28 will be separate and free from one another, preferably.

At e end o thtlfflbe adjacen t e ma Q narrow ends of the strips [4 aplurality of fastener strips are secured. Each of these fastener stripspreferably comprises a tape and a plurality of spaced projecting teethof the character well known in the art. In the form of theiembodi mentshown, four such strips are provided, the same being strips 30, 32, 34and 36. Thestrips 30 and 32 are mating strips, and the strips 35 and 36are mating strips. The strips are preterably of substantially e uallength. The tapes of these strips are preferably secured to the robe H)at the same face of that robe Whiclfi'se'n gaged by thelongitudinaltapesl8, andsubstantially the same'arrangemenfi'bf thestrips 30'; 32, 34 and 36 with respect to'themargin "and edge of therobe is followed "as has been described above with reference to theta'peand fastener 1'8, 22; that is, the 'tapes'are stitched to" the 'robespaced'inwardly from the edge of the robe and at the inner edge'ormargin'of the tape, and'the e teeth of each fastener 's'trip" arelocated in slightly outwardly projecting relation with respect'tfo theedge of the robe. Where'four fasteners 30, 32, 34, 36 are provided, eachthereofi'sfof'a 1ength slightly less than oneuarterof the length of theedge or marginal portion"o'f the robet'o"whicli"they"are secur d. Thustheoute'rmost e'rids of'the Stiifi 30 and (1'6 arespaced inwardly from'th'es ide edges of robe to which the longitudinal tape strips [8 aresecured. The 'inne'fnd's off the tape strips 32', 34 are'spaced apartandare substantially eduif spaced from the longitudinal center of therobe. The" adjacent ends 'o'f' the"complementarystrips 36,32,84 and3fi'are'alsdspaed apart. "The 'arj i'ang'ementandspaciflg'ofthel stripsis subst tially'asillustrated inFigIZ. "The strips 39, 32 34, "36 arepreferably so oriented that the startiny'endstheredf are til ends whichare adiacentto each other when the robe is spread flat. "Thus thestrip'sand 35 are illustratedas' the strips w urwh the slider elements 38 'arepermanently associated, d

s1- uon; It'willbe'unde'rstdod, ho e r, that the fasteners areof thetypewhichfpermit complete e a n" f e nil' le tfita ss "t at the part'30' may be 'c ornplet'e'ly separated frorii the part and thepart 34"may. becpmpletely separated from the'parftiit When it is"desire dtdfform an enclosure, the robe i0 is foldedsubst'antially alongthe'dotted lines 40 to position the longitudinaledges of therobea'd'jacent to one another. When so folded, the strips scene .12 willregister and thestrip's 34 and seven register, sol that the S1iders 38inay be manipulated to interengage said strips and therebysubstantiallyjclo se the endfof the robe; in the folded. position shownin 1 After the end of the robe has thus been closed, the user canselectthe mannerin which the ion: gitudinal fasteners will be engaged. In'other words, the user" can 's'elect'th'e size of enclosure which herequires. lfhesmallest size of' encloj sure illustrated in Fig, 3. canbe efiected by inter-i these sliders are illusti tedat their starting p"4 locking the teeth 22 carried by the tapes l8 secured to the margins ofthe robe Hi. It will be observed in this connection that a slider 42 iscarried by and forms a permanent part of one of the two marginallymounted tapes and forms the means for securing the two fastener partstogether. The starting position for the interlocking fasteners ispreferably located at the end of the robe adjacent to the end fasteners30, 32, 3!}, 3 6 so that the slider will be located near the fringe endof the robe when the fastener has been completely assembled.

.In cases where two strips 44 are provided upon the robe, the fastenerupon the inner edge of the strip, adjacent to whose outer edge is 10-dated the outer fastener carrying the slider 42, will have permanentlyassociated therewith the sliderfi. This slider will permit interlockingof the inner margin of the strip I4, by which it is ca'rridj with eitherof the fastener strips at the opposite marginsof therobe, that is,either with nie'rasener "strip located "at the "opposite "margin ofthejblanket' or with 'the fastener strip located at the inn r edge of heS'tri p f4 carried by i l posit'edge or the'rdbeL It" will beunderstood; ofbourse, that eithefbf the fastener sections carrying thesliders 42 or 44"may'beassociated witheither'of the two fastenersections positioned a'tthe' 'opposite'marg in" of the robe; It is pre'-'ferred that the fastener mounting the'slider 42 will interlock with thefastener mounted on the inner end of the strip I4 carried by theopposite sides of therobe whereonly one of the strips [4 ist'o be'eXtendedlofincreasing the size of the enclosure to'its' intermediatesize, as illustrated in 'Fig'j '4. The reason for that arrangement isthatthe slider 44' 'is then "positioned confined within theenclosurefbut this arrangement is not required. In the base'where theenclosure is to be fully extended t6 'its'greate'st size, the slider 5 W1 memes t e. as e er' t t whi h s a s cia ed he g m le te fastener itmer ted eii i l e n r m n o s e strip it as' lust e'din F s 'e- 1 Itwillbe apparent th'atthe robe of the charactenillustrated in Eigs'fl'tdd, is especially suited for use as a sleeping bag or as a blanketenclosure for use inamb'ula'nces or other occasions where the userassumes a reclining" position. The enclosureinsures that the user willbe fully protected and will not become uncovered incident to movementbfthe user within the enclosure. th as ener are en ed ma P tions' of therobe material extend in substantial edge engagement so that fullprotective valuebf isf fb is provid a d iQf ltseeapsor op .I .1 L 12-: w2'. i w I Z -l T e ad m n for size, dvantag o esp cially for u'sejinambulances or thelike where different personsuse the blanket or robe. Atthe same timefthe robe is capable of use in its fiat extended condition,thusr'enderingthe item" a multiple purpose item." In this connection; tothe. best of my knowledge, preyiousconstructions of robes of'tliis harat r which form enclosures or. sleepin ba s have a wa been such. thatthey havenot been suitable for. use fiat extended form. The abilitytofuse the'robe in its flat'form' greatly increases itsfutility, andparticularly In lges it usable durin warm weather when pic"- bl'anktsor.beach blankets are usable. This robe can'se'rve assucn picnic blanket,or beach blanket without alteration and merely by disconnest n a ners iwi e mem s hat e ng o the.

strips l4 and of the longitudinal fasteners used therewith may be variedaccording to the wishes of the user or the manufacturer and that saidstrips and fasteners may extend substantially full length of the robe ifdesired. Also, it will be understood that the strips l4 need not be ofthe tapered shape shown, although this tapered shape is advantageousfrom the standpoint of the fact that it enables the fasteners at theinner margins of the strips to be engaged at points which are close tothe strips 30, 32, 34, 36 so that the openings provided at the closedend of the enclosure may be kept small and the possibility of airentering therethrough may be held at a minimum.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7to 10, inclusive, the numeral 50 designates a robe of any desired sizeand preferably of rectangular shape, and which may have fringes '52carried by the opposite ends thereof.

The robe 50 has a pair of complementary slide fastener parts 54 and 56secured to the opposite margins thereof and preferably terminatingspaced from the end edges of the robe. The fastener part 56 includes theslider 58 as a permanent part thereof, and the slide fasteners arepreferably of the type well known in the art which permits the twostrips 52 and 56 to be completely separated from each other. It will beunderstood that the character and construction of the fasteners may beof the usual type, wherein fabric tapes 66 carry a plurality oflongitudinally spaced interlocking teeth 62 along one margin thereof.The tapes 66 of the fastener parts 54 and 56 are so arranged that theteeth 62 upon said strips will preferably project slightly beyond thelongitudinal edges of the robe,

Spaced from one end of the robe and secured thereto in longitudinalalignment transversely of the robe are a series of fastener sections 64,66, 63 and I6, each of which includes the usual tape 66 and teeth 62carried by and projecting from one margin of the tape. The sections 64and 66 are complementary, with the section 66 mounting the slider 12;and the sections 68 and 10 are complementary, with the section 68mounting the slider 14. As best illustrated in Fig. 8, the tapes 64 and16 preferably extend substantially to the opposite longitudinal edges ofthe robe 56. The inner edges of the fastener units 66 and 68 extend toadjacent but slightly spaced relation substantially centrally of therobe, and the complementary sections 64, 66, 68 and 10 are spaced apartslightly at their inner ends.

In this embodiment of the invention, the portion 16 of the robeoutwardly of the fastener sections 64, 66, 63, I is folded along a foldline 18 substantially coincident with said fastener sections and in adirection to position the tapes 60 of said fastener sections outermost.The robe is then folded along the longitudinal dotted lines 86 centrallybetween the adjacent ends of the complementary fastener strips, therebypositioning the complementary fastener strips in register with oneanother. The longitudinal folds of the.

robe occur in a direction to position the fastener sections 64, 66, 68,10 outermost and the folded end portion I6 of the blanket within theinterior of the enclosure formed by the folding operation. Thecomplementary fasteners 64, 66 may then be engaged, and thecomplementary fasteners 68, 16 may then be engaged. The fasteners arepreferably so oriented that they start or engage adjacent thelongitudinal center of the enclosure and are pulled outwardly toward thefolds 80.

This arrangement, while preferable, is, of course, not essential. Itdoes, however, provide for .a partial closure only of the complementaryfasteners as illustrated in Fig. 10, thereby providing an opening in theenclosure, through which opening the user may extend his foot, ifdesired. The opening can be adjusted as to size so that it will not beof any larger size than is required for the leg to pass therethrough. Inother words, after the user has extended his leg through the opening,the slider 14 may then be moved outwardly to reduce the size of theopening and to cause the robe to fit snugly around the users leg. Inthis Way air cannot enter the interior of the enclosure through theopening around the leg of the user. The enclosure is then completed byengaging the longitudinal fastener strips 54, 56 and manipulate ing theslider to close the same.

This embodiment of the invention possesses substantially the samefeatures, characteristics and advantages that are possessed by theembodiment illustrated in Fig. 1. The enclosure or bag formed is ofsmaller size than that shown in Fig. 1 for any given size of robe, andthis especially suits the device for use as a foot and leg protector bypersons who are watching athletic contests out-of-doors, such asfootball games, or by occupants of wheel chairs.

The Fig. 7 embodiment possesses several charteristics which aredistinctive of it and in addition to those which are possessed by theFig. 1 embodiment. Among these advantages are the fact that the returninfolding of the parts 16 of the robe provides an internal flapconstruction which cooperates with the slide fasteners 64, 66, 68 and i6to seal the lower end portion of the enclosure against the entry of air.Another advantage of the construction is that the tapes 60 of the slidefasteners 64, 66, 68 and I0 which are located at the line 18 upon whichthe robe is folded serve, especially when positioned externally as ispreferred, as a wear strip to protect the robe at the point of foldagainst wear due to friction and due to contact with a supportingsurface when pressed against such surface by the feet of the wearer.

Still another advantage of the construction is illustrated in Fig. 10and has been mentioned above, namely that the construction provides fortwo or more access openings at the lower normally closed end of thedevic through which the feet of the user may extend in instances wherethe feet of the user must be accessible. One instance in which suchusage would be advantageous would be use by the driver of a truck or anautomobile of the sport type, in cold weather, or of any other type ininstances where the automobile heater was not functioning properly. Thisembodiment, like the embodiment of Fig. 1, possesses the dual advantageof usage extended fiat in the Fig. 8 position, as well as folded to forman enclosure as in the Fig. '7 position.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustratedand described, it will be understood that changes in the constructionmay be made within the scope of the appended claims without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a robe having oppositelongitudinal margins, a pair of complementary slide fastener sectionssecured to said longitudinal margins and each having an end portionterminating spaced from one end of said robe, and a plurality ofcomplementary fastener sections secured to said robe to extend end toend in transversely extending relation adjacent the last named ndportions of said fastener strips and spaced from" the end of said robewhereby said robe may be folded transversely adja ent to saidlast namedfastener strips and thence may be folded longitudinally to form anenclosure with said coniplem'entary longitudinal and transverse fastener"sections in cooperating relation.

21 An article of manufacture as defined in claim" 1, wherein each slidefastener is of the type including a slider permanently attached to onefastener section and detachablyi engageable with the other fastenersection, and wherein the slider of at least one transverse fastener hasa starting position intermediate the sides of said enclosure and saidfastener sections extend laterally outwardly from said startingposition.

3. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1, wherein saidtransverse fastener sections in.- clude tape portions secured to saidrobe at the surface of said robe. which is exposed wh n s id robe isfolded transversely- YERNE L. STEPHENSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date D. 156,446 Lustgarten Dec. 13, 1949 906,551 Newr'nan h. Dec.15, 1908 2,259,267 Ranken T Oct. 14, 1941 2342,105 Vacheron May 25,;1948 2,598,462 Strauss V May 27, 1952

